Thoughts on the trail during my artist residency …

I just crested staying over two months in Taos, New Mexico as an Artist in Residence at the Wurlitzer Foundation. A few days after I arrived here I sought out the Devisadero Loop Trail, a section / foothill of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. It begins around 7,000 feet above sea level and makes its way to 8,300 feet. Needless to say, my Minnesota lungs were winded. I was such a PILE on the first hike. Took me 2.5-3 hours and I was exhausted on those early days of being here. Now I’m run/hiking it, and just had my best time at 1:10.

“Devisadero” has a few searchable meanings – could be from the Spanish word for ‘division.’ The forest service says it means “lookout place” and that “the peak had once been used by the Taos Pueblo Indians to stand guard against the Apaches who would come down Taos Canyon to raid the Pueblo.” Or it might be from the word divisar, meaning similarly ‘to gaze at something from a distance.’

apple in the ocean by mary bue“My heart is twisted, feels like it’s pounding right out of my chest. Fried up and crispy; she’s got it wrapped up in beeswax.” – MB “Beeswax” (listen above)

Oooooh, the heart. We’ve all got one. It’s in there pounding away, pumping blood to the nether regions, all the way down to our fingertips and toes. This blog has been by far the most challenging for me to write for some reason. I’ve been writing a weekly series on the seven major Chakras. Chakras are energy centers in our body, and have been cited in Hindu, Qi Gong, Buddhist and New Age practices. These energy centers or “wheels” have different emotional characteristics and correlate to physical organs, cerebral processes and spiritual aspirations. New Age-y stuff might make you cringe and all week long I’ve been saying “take it or leave it,” but if you are into self reflection (and many of you are artsy types so you probably are into delving into the depths of your fabulous soul), my hope is to send you away with a few things you can focus on this week to balance your heart.

I kinda like singing in weddings. It’s always an honor to be asked. Usually there is champagne. People are dressed really nice. If the song is during the ceremony, the guest and the couple tend to listen (more than at a bar gig, that’s for sure – ha)! I’ve been singing at weddings since I was in my late teens / early twenties. Unfortunately, the marriage success rate isn’t 100% so I can’t say that I’m a lucky charm, but MOST of the couples have remained together! I think I’ve sang in about 25 weddings thus far.Read more →